Connecting device for umbrella ribs

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to a connecting device designed for connecting umbrella ribs and specifically refers to one installed on each pivoted part existing among all lengthwise ribs and transverse ribs and it contains a hollow tubular sleeve sheathed on the lengthwise rib and a socket sleeve mounted on the top of the transverse rib. The hollow tubular sleeve has two symmetrical elongated wings where the pinholes existed respectively. The socket sleeve is the same as the hollow tubular sleeve having two symmetrical elongated wings where pinholes are on the same line with the central bore located on the top of the socket sleeve. There are slots formed between the socket sleeve and its two symmetrical elongated wings for receiving two symmetrical elongated wings of the hollow tubular sleeve. By using a rivet to pivotally connect the hollow tubular sleeve coupled on the lengthwise rib with the socket sleeve set on the top of the transverse rib together, thus linking the lengthwise rib and transverse rib collectively and that greatly enhancing the connecting strength of the pivoted part thereof.

1. A connecting device installed on the pivoted part between a lengthwise rib and a corresponding transverse rib of an umbrella, comprising:
 a hollow tubular sleeve sheathed on the lengthwise rib, the hollow tubular sleeve having a pair of symmetrical first elongated wings extending therefrom, each first elongated wing having a first pinhole formed therethrough; 
 a socket sleeve mounted to an end of the transverse rib and being pivotally coupled to the hollow tubular sleeve, the socket sleeve having two symmetrical second elongated wings, each second elongated wing having a second pinhole formed therethrough and disposed in aligned relationship with a central bore located adjacent a top portion of the socket sleeve, the socket sleeve having a pair of receiving slots respectively formed between the second elongated wings and the top portion of the socket sleeve for respectively receiving the pair of first elongated wings of the hollow tubular sleeve therein, the pair of first pinholes being disposed in aligned relationship with the second pinholes and the central bore; and 
 a rivet passing through the first pinholes, the second pinholes and the central bore to provide the pivotal coupling between the hollow tubular sleeve and the socket sleeve.